Newton leads Kentucky past Eastern Kentucky 37-12

Nov 7, 2009 - 10:05 PM
By JEFFREY McMURRAY
Associated Press Writer

LEXINGTON, Ky.(AP) -- Morgan Newton threw his first two career
touchdown passes and three other Wildcats ran for scores as
Kentucky dominated Eastern Kentucky 37-12 Saturday, extending
its nonconference winning streak to a school-record 18 games.

Newton, a true freshman starting his fourth game in place of the
injured Mike Hartline, threw the first scoring passes of his
brief Wildcats career just over a minute apart late in the third
quarter.

First, he connected with Maurice Grinter from 14 yards out.
Then, after an interception by Sam Maxwell gave the Wildcats the
ball right back deep in Eastern Kentucky territory, Newton found
Chris Matthews in the corner of the end zone on an 18-yard
timing play.

Reeling from a loss to Mississippi State a week earlier in which
Anthony Dixon set a Bulldogs single-game rushing mark, the
Wildcats (5-4) needed to win this game and at least one of their
final three SEC contests to become the first Kentucky team to
qualify for a fourth straight bowl appearance. Coach Rich Brooks
and the players had set an even loftier goal of improving their
postseason destination this year after winning two Music City
Bowls and one Liberty Bowl the previous three seasons.

Newton, who completed 20 of 29 passes for a career-high 187
yards and no interceptions, wasn't the only offensive playmaker
replacing an injured teammate against the overmatched Colonels
(5-4).

With tailback Derrick Locke sidelined by injuries to both knees,
Moncell Allen and Alfonso Smith filled in admirably, each
rushing for more than 60 yards and one touchdown.

So, too, did Donald Russell, who took his first of three carries
in the game for 79 yards - running untouched to the end zone to
stretch the Kentucky lead to 37-6. Prior to that carry, he had
rushed for only 46 yards all season.

Also out of action was the team's top receiver, Randall Cobb,
who had a banged-up thumb, but Matthews, La'Rod King, Gene
McCaskill and others gave Newton plenty of passing targets.

Defensively, the Wildcats had their way with Colonels
dual-threat quarterback T.J. Pryor, who completed just 9 of 28
passes while throwing two interceptions and being sacked once.

One of the few bright spots for Eastern Kentucky was one scoring
drive that included some trickery and a long pass.

Pryor connected for a 43-yard bomb to Orlandus Harris, who had
to leap over a Kentucky defender to make the catch. With Eastern
lined up in field goal formation a few plays later, holder
Marcus Williams sprinted into the end zone on a fake, cutting
the Kentucky lead to 10-6. The Colonels couldn't tack on the
extra point due to a high snap.

Kentucky quickly answered with a touchdown to lead 17-6 at
halftime. Newton completed consecutive passes of 15 and 16
yards, setting up a 1-yard TD plunge by Smith, who had picked up
15 yards two plays earlier.

Will Fidler, who relieved Newton at quarterback on the previous
drive and also subbed briefly in the second half, got the team
into position for a 22-yard Lones Seiber field goal.

Allen gave the Wildcats their first points with under 5 minutes
left in the first quarter, running for a 1-yard TD two plays
after he was stopped just short of the goal on a 7-yard run.

The Wildcats started the drive from the Eastern Kentucky 35
after the Colonels were forced to punt from their own end zone.
Kentucky had driven to the 10 on its previous possession but
turned the ball over on downs when Smith couldn't pick up the
few inches needed to preserve the drive.